Some rooms on the higher floors had gorgeous mountain and valley views

Guests often enjoyed dining on site

Staff were very well liked, accommodating, courteous and helpful

Location was well liked for nearby access to the hot springs the gondola and trails, and an easy ride to Banff downtown

Cons

Underground self-parking is $18 and valet is $32 per day, plus tax

Many felt the hotel was overpriced

Guests often complained of the hotel's noisy heating system which made it difficult to sleep

Guests often judged the rooms to be a little dated and average

Freebies

Free Wi-Fi

Rooms

Adults

Kids

Kids' Ages

Editor's Analysis

Updated Jul 26, 2016

Overview

This hotel offers a luxury stay with expansive mountain and valley views, a 5-minute walk from the Banff Gondola and Banff Upper Hot Springs and a 7-minute drive, or 10-minute bus ride from downtown Banff.

The smoke-free hotel has 343 rooms over 8 floors. All rooms include free Wi-Fi, free local calls, a 32” flat screen TV with cable and pay movies, a coffeemaker, a mini-fridge, a desk with ergonomic chair, a safe, an iron and ironing board, a hair dryer and climate control. Rooms are furnished with 2 queen beds or 1 king bed.

Parking in a heated underground parkade is $18 plus tax and valet parking is $32 plus tax, per day. Roam Bus passes provided by the hotel offers a free shuttle to town with the stop right outside the hotel. Buses operate from this location from 6:30 am to 11 pm and depart every 20 to 30 minutes (depending on the time of the day).

Pets (2) are welcome for $40 per day for the first pet and $20 per day for the second pet. Pet stays must be booked directly with the hotel at (403) 762-3356. Pets are given their own bed, plus bowls, treats and waste bags.

The hotel offers a few dining options. The Primrose Dining Room available for casual dining in an elegant setting is open for breakfast and dinner and offers magnificent views of the mountains. Eden offers fine dining each evening from 6 pm. Larkspur is the hotel’s lobby lounge open till late and offering lunch and dinner daily with cozy wood-burning fireplace. Divas Cocktail Bar is open most weekends and offers sports viewing and live music. Rimrock Café offers coffee, pastries, gourmet sandwiches, snacks, magazines, wine and handmade truffles and chocolates. It’s open daily from 6:30 am to 9 pm or 10 pm. Room service is available 24 hours.

Luxton Museum is 5 minutes away by car and Lux Cinema is a 9-minute drive away. Cave & Basin National Historic Site is an 8-minute drive away. Sunshine Village Ski Resort is a 25-minute drive from the hotel. Calgary International Airport (YYC) is at least 1 hour and 40 minutes’ drive from the hotel. (All travel times: Google Maps)

Confirmed with the front desk on July 25, 2016: Wi-Fi is free to all guests, parking prices, tea kettles can be requested from the front desk and there is no guest laundry on site; guests can adjust the AC in their rooms

They really liked the location. It was an easy walk to the Gondola and Hot Springs and some enjoyed taking the hike up Sulphur Mountain. The views were majestic, and guests could enjoy the serenity afforded by the parkland with wildlife sometimes in view. Guests also found getting to downtown Banff easy as the Roam Bus picked up right in front of the hotel and guests were given free passes for the 10-minute ride.

Guests usually enjoyed their rooms. Although some found the rooms underwhelming, void of style, or even dated, many voiced approval of their spaciousness, their cleanliness and their comfort. Beds were often described as comfortable with quality linens and guests told of how they enjoyed hearing birds singing from their balconies.

Guests were pleased with the service. The staff was described as warm, courteous and accommodating.

Guests liked the facilities on site. The fitness centre was very clean and fully equipped, the indoor pool was a good temperature and size for doing laps, the hot tub was very large and at a pleasing temperature, there was a shower area, plenty of towels and guests enjoyed the sauna and steam room. Some were pleased to have heated underground parking.

Guests enjoyed dining on site. Although this was not unanimous, guests often enjoyed meals at the Primrose and the Larkspur Lounge, and found the room service prompt. One recent guest wrote, “We ate several meals at the Primrose dining room, which were delicious, but the Pasta and Dessert Buffet was really outstanding.” The Larkspur Lounge offered a small balcony where guests could relax and enjoy the views.

Guests who offered their critique of the hotel often felt it was overpriced for what was offered.

Some guests found it difficult to sleep due to the hotel’s noisy geothermal heating system. Guests described the sound differently. One said it sounded like water running through pipes and another mentioned a whooshing sound and yet another said it sounded like a muffled jet engine that cycles on and off all day and night and permeates the entire property. Many guests found it disturbing and it was noted that in some rooms the noise was quieter but it could still be heard.

Other recent room complaints posted were: poor views for such a high room rate, air conditioning didn't work well--room was hot and stuffy, the AC unit only allowed us to change the fan setting and not the temperature, lighting in bathroom was too dim, bathroom small, could hear neighbours through the walls, elevators a disturbance, in-room coffee not that great, tub in a guest room looked old, noisy revelers, noise from the piano bar reaching the room, and room was too plain with empty space.

Recent hotel complaints were: fitness facilities were average, pool is small and the area underwhelming for a resort, no outdoor hot tub, not much for the kids to do, elliptical machines in the fitness centre need to be up-graded, the hotel bills itself as a 4-star but it seems more like a 3-star hotel, the day spa area was a little basic and not very relaxing, staff did not offer to help with luggage, too much nickel and diming--$3.25 for a bottle of water, extra for parking, $9.50 for almonds or cookies.